i miss home.
and everyone that was there.






please.

Malaysia Tanah Airku - selamanya!

Been ages since I've written here - been 3 weeks or so.
In those 3 weeks my life has changed by leaps and bounds;
for those who know, I have 'relocated' to the city of Manchester, England, to pursue my degree in Law; or rather, to continue it.

I miss my family like nuts, though I'm not very homesick (yet).
The weather is freezing, but I'm getting pretty used to it...the body is intelligent in its own many ways!
The shopping here is pretty okay, but the food is average. Nothing beats Malaysian food.

And certainly, nothing beats Malaysian people and friends. Yes, people do get racist when there are money and opportunity issues involved - but honestly, we Malaysians love each other for who we are. We like each other even though they are Chinese or Malay or Indian or the in-betweens! We are friendly, hospitable, humourous and we are proud to be Malaysian in more ways than one.. I know I am, anyway!

I have made friends here - from Spain, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Lithuania, France - but not ONE British citizen. Does that sound an alarm? I should think so..

But I am here to adapt and change my life for the better. I have to begin walking on my own two feet. I am proud to say I have ironed my own shirts, cleaned my own room, done my own laundry, washed my own dishes, cooked my own meals, bought my own groceries. I have walked miles and miles and complained, of course.. I will never ever take for granted my dad and mum again for driving us places and of course, the LRT station down the road from my SS2 home!


My dad was absolutely right - If Manchester doesn't make a woman out of me, nothing will.

Praise and Thank Jesus!

I'd do it all again - the Maxis Scholarship for Excellence Award.

It's funny how experiences change people, change the way you think, the way you feel, the way you dream.

When I was younger I wanted to be a doctor, a pilot, a rockstar, a philantropist, a scientist, a forensic scientist, a teacher.
(Currently, I am pursuing Law. The IRONY!)

And thanks to the Maxis Scholarship for Excellence programme, I can now pursue law overseas without having to worry about burdening my parents excessively. I will be heading over to the University of Manchester this coming Friday to complete the next 2 years of my degree.!

The story doesn't end here though - it has changed my life in so many different ways.

I now know what photoshoots are like, with the makeup and flash photography and awesome computers and software and lighting and studios.
I now know that I CAN go without sleep for 14 hours and smile continuously.
I now have wonderful new friends from all different walks of life - different races and backgrounds and experiences!
(Let's see if I can remember all of them - Natashini, Trisyella, Sarah, Bashirah, Deldrie, U Jean, Eu Jhin, William, Vimesshen, Wei Wen, Ai Lin, Dashini, Usha, Yen Wen, Gurpreet, Yogendran, Naquiyah, Ilyana, Hanis, Yi Koon, Ye Han, Andrew, Yang Jian, Amalyna.)

Then yesterday we met again - and this time we were immensely proud. Deputy Minister Dato' Joseph Salang graced our Award ceremony in KL Hilton, and the CEO, COO, CFO of Maxis Berhad were there too.
I gave a speech to represent the Undergrad students. I was REALLY nervous but the response was overwhelmingly positive. CEO Sandip Das shook my hand and told me that I shouldn't give speeches better than the CEO! He was kidding of course, but I was really taken aback at his humility and sense of humour, and I was also really really proud of myself, like my parents were.

The press conference and following interview were also interesting!

The only part about the whole thing I hated was the end. I hugged everyone I could goodbye.. and it was painful knowing that it WAS goodbye because hardly anyone else was bonded to Maxis like I was.. and I was leaving. I would never see most of them again!

"It sucks having to figure out you really love your friends then have to leave them."


Nonetheless, Maxis deserves my utmost gratitude for giving me this wonderful opportunity, and changing Malaysia's future as we know it!
THANK YOU MAXIS!

..I am leaving for Manchester in 5 days.

And yet, I feel like the distance between my closest friends and I is already growing.

I hate fighting,
but I cannot stand being called stupid or a cow,
especially if I've done nothing wrong.


Sigh.
Maybe things have to be like this so it's easier to leave,
and walk away.

Engaged!

Amelia - holds up a 'Marry Me Ryan' poster.

Ryan - Stares long and hard at it, and smiles.
: Hey you over there, I accept your proposal!

Amelia - panics! Looks around for someone else with a poster.

Hitakshi : He's talking to you OMG he's talking to you!

Amelia : I'm DYING!

Ryan : Heck, I knew I was going to find a wife for me down on my trip to Singapore! I don't even know her name! But I don't need to..

Amelia : I'm DYING, Takshi. He's seriously talking to me!

Ryan : So where would we have the wedding? In LA or here in Singapore?

Amelia : BOTH! But I'm from Malaysia I came all the way down south to see you!

*Crowd laughs*

Ryan : You did, eh?
But what if you found out I had like umm.. *thinks* 6 toes or something?

Amelia : I don't careeeeee! I'd marry you!

Ryan's backup guy : But it's disgusting!

Amelia : It doesn't matter!

Ryan : What if I lost all my hair in some umm.. freak hair loss accident?

Amelia : I'd marry you anyway. I don't care..

Ryan : That's true love, right there! This song is for you.. and it's about love.
- sings Walking on Water!






This man changed my life. (:

But I love you more, CT!!